Stable electrolyte for reserve electrochemical cells

Abstract

The use of lithium hexafluroarsenate dissolved in acetronitrile as an electrolyte in a reserve electrochemical cell having a lithium anode, a sulfur dioxide depolarizer and a means for maintaining the electrolyte and depolarizer remote from the anode prior to activation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrochemical cell device, comprising: a lithium anode; a cell completing mixture remote from said anode, comprising acetonitrile, lithium hexafluroarsenate and sulfur dioxide; and reserve means for admixing said anode and said cell completing mixture to form an electrochemical cell. 
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said reserve means includes means for transferring said mixture to said anode upon command. 
     
     
       3. An electrochemical cell device, comprising: a first chamber containing a lithium anode, and space for an electrolyte and depolarizer; a second chamber remote from said first chamber and containing an electrolyte comprising acetonitrile and lithium hexafluroarsenate, and a quantity of sulfur dioxide as a depolarizer; and means for transferring said electrolyte and said depolarizer from said second chamber to said first chamber to activate said cell. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 3 wherein said first chamber contains a plurality of lithium anodes and cathode collectors connected in series to form a multicell battery.